Bond to coach the Sydney Thunder in BBL08

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - JANUARY 11: Shane Bond NZ bowling coach looks on prior to the start of the One Day International match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval on January 11, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

The Sydney Thunder has signed Brisbane Heat assistant coach Shane Bond as their head coach for the 2018/19 summer.

Bond, who is highly rated within the Heat organisation, has served as an assistant at the Heat since BBL05, owever, the 42-year-old, will switch Brisbane for Sydney, where he has signed of as head coach for the next 3 seasons.

With the task of returning the Thunder back to the top after two disappointing seasons, Bond is relishing the opportunity.

“The chance to lead a programme at a club which is full of great people on and off the field was very appealing,” Bond said in a statement.

“I want to win trophies and have a squad of players and coaches that other teams are envious of.

“There’s some exciting young players in the Thunder squad as well as some experienced old bulls, if we can blend that together we’ll have a successful team.”

Head coach of the Heat, Daniel Vettori, also paid tribute to his close friend, wishing him all the best.

“While it is a shame to lose him from our club, I’m personally very happy for Bondy. He’ll do a great job although hopefully not against us when we come up against them in BBL|08,” Vettori said.

“He’s done some superb work with our bowlers over the years and their careers will have benefited from his input with them.”

In his first head coaching role, Bond has set a list of priorities already, with the international recruits high on the list. New Zealand compatriot Mitchell McClenaghan, drew criticism from the Thunder supporter base and England’s Jos Buttler was called up for international duty.

The Thunder is already linked to Jamaica allrounder Andre Russell, who was a part of the title winning Thunder team, where rumours linking the Thunder with South African quick Morne Morkel, who will retire from international cricket at the end of the current Test series against Australia, while rising Pakistan seamer Shaheen Afridi, who turns 18 next month is also high on the radar of the Thunder.

The Thunder currently have six players on their list, including international stars Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja, however with the 2018-19 summer yet to be decided, whether they will play a part in the Big Bash remains to be seen. Shane Watson is yet to be resigned, who has said that he remains open to playing on if the Thunder requires his services.